November 2004

President's Message

Have you ever gone by a house that has one of those inflatable decorations on the front yard, at a time when its blower isn’t on? Instead of seeing the Nittany Lion, Santa Claus or Jeff Gordon you observe a multi-colored blob cascading from the spouting or flopped over the shrubbery … no form or function, it’s just there. That’s about how I feel as I write this.

I became your president knowing that the bar had been set high; that there were expectations to be fulfilled and standards to be maintained. That is why over the last several months I have continually tried my best to conduct myself with the dignity and decency that you demand and deserve. I wanted to win your confidence and trust and felt I was making real progress, hoping ultimately to be able to say as Sally Fields declared, “You like me! You really, really like me!” Then suddenly, like a cheap suitcase, it all came apart at the March 13 meeting when I was made to look like a complete clown after having been set up by my fellow Lions and my family – those whom I trust most. The laughter from that night still echoes in my ears along with taunts of, “Hey, Krispy.” And at times I could swear I smell face paint mixed with baby powder.

I know we’ll recover from the issues that meeting created. It began with a “reasonable and orderly” meeting on the 27^th, and will hopefully continue from there. I know the best way out of this is to keep working, so Lions, stay involved and I’ll see you at the next meeting.

It’s kind of like feeling bad on a Friday, but knowing that it isn’t going to last, because Sunday is coming! Which reminds me, have a Blessed Easter Holiday.

Lion Joe

April is “Off Schedule”

Often the weather in April seems a little mixed up – is it spring, or still winter? Well, our meetings for this month are a little different than our normal schedule, also. Rather than our meetings being on the second and fourth Tuesdays, they are as follows

The egg-coloring evening, held on Tuesday, April 3, served as our first meeting of this month.

Tuesday, April 17, 6:15 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church -- This will be ourannual Tri-Club meeting with our fellow Lions from the Hershey Lions Club, and the Palmyra Lions Club. NOTE: The date is the third Tuesday, and the location is the church, not the Fire Hall. Since we are the host Club for this year’s meeting you will want to be there to help show our guests what a great group of Lions we have in E-town. Of course, the food and program will be terrific too.

Greeters for April

The opportunity to greet our members, as well as those from Hershey and Palmyra on April 17, will be given to Marv Boyer and Bob Brain.

Dues Statements Enclosed

Most of you who receive your newsletter via the U.S. Postal System have found a financial statement from the Club enclosed. There are two potential amounts shown on the memo – quarterly dues for April, May and June (if you pay quarterly), and the amount owed for attendance at the Family Christmas Party held in December 2006 (if you attended). The amount you are billed for the Party is based on the number of people who accompanied you that evening. Obviously, if you pay dues annually and did not attend the Christmas Party you will receive no billing at this time.

Those members who receive the newsletter via email will receive their bill via the postal system.

Prompt payment of all amounts owed is critical to the smooth financial operation of our Club and will be greatly appreciated.

Preparing for 2007-08

Although we still have three months left in the current Lions year, we are laying the groundwork for the 2007-08 year. The official announcement of the nominations for next year’s officers will take place at the regular meeting on May 8 and the election will take place at the regular meeting on May 22. Installation of the new officers will take place at our meeting on June 26, the final meeting of the 2006-07 Lions year.

At the time this newsletter went to press, the following are the proposed nominations:

Second Vice-President . . . . .Dan Connollely Director 07-08 . . .. . Paul Lesoine

Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dale Horst Director 07-09 . . . . Bill Thorpe

Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bob Ulmer Membership . . . . . . Bob Brain

Asst. Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . Chuck Shaffner Retention . . . . . . . .. Eric Metzler

Chaplain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gary Epler Public Relations . . .. Steve Roland

Lion Tamer . . . . . . . . . . . . . VACANT Sight Directors . . . . . Mike Myers and Jerry Lorson

TailTwister..............................DaveMueller Web Master . . . . . . Mike Myers

You’ll notice there are two positions still waiting to be filled. The Lion Tamer position is a relatively easy position to fill. Essentially, this person is responsible for seeing that our banner, gong and gavel are appropriately placed at the head table prior to each meeting, and then returning them to storage at the conclusion of each meeting.

The office of Third Vice-President is a very critical one in our organization because the person who fills this is in line to become Club President after moving through the three Vice-Presidencies. The duties of the Third Vice-President next year, and each of the succeeding years until reaching the Presidency, are to serve on the Board of Directors, to secure programs for our regular meetings for a three month period each year (a maximum of six programs per year), and perhaps most importantly, to observe and learn the role of the President so that when his/her year arrives, he/she will be ready to serve effectively.

If you would like to serve in either of these two positions, please contact Dean Dochterman, next year’s President, ASAP.

One of our Club’s more “public” activities is the Easter Egg Hunt, which we have been doing for the youth of our area for as long as anyone can remember (literally!), will take place on Saturday, April 7, in the Town Park (across the street from the softball field). Members should report to the Park by 8:30 a.m. for some donuts (President Joe volunteered to bring them) and to be assigned an area to hide eggs and “supervise” during the hunt. The five areas, which are various sections of of the Park based on the ages of the children, and it works best if we have at least two Lions for each area. The job is simple and, once the hunt begins at 10:00 a.m. it is over in just a few minutes – either the children are good “finders,” or the Lions are poor “hiders” – but in any case it doesn’t take long.

We need your help that morning. Like all our projects, the work is easy and fun when we have sufficient help to get it done. So, please mark your calendar for that morning and come to the Park to help the Club help the children.

(I’m not going to say this out loud – I don’t want to jinx it – but, just in case it rains on Saturday, the hunt will be held on Sunday, April 8, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Lions should arrive at the Park at 12:30 p.m.)

We are pleased to welcome into membership our newest member, Dennis Karalfa. Dennis returns to our Club after being a non-member for a period of time and we are glad to have him return. If you don’t already know him, be sure to introduce yourself to Dennis at the next opportunity.

Since we have a new member, we must have a new Lion King, right? Yes, that is correct. The reign of Lion King Bill Thorpe was rather short-lived (sorry, Bill), but we are pleased to announce a new Lion King, Bob Fackler. Bob sponsored Dennis Karalfa when Dennis joined the Club so Bob now receives all the benefits which come to the Lion King, the most important of which is the opportunity to go through the buffet line first at our meetings (at least that appears to be the case when watching previous persons in this honorary position). At any rate, we welcome Bob to this exalted position and, hopefully, he won’t be there long because that will mean that we have gained yet another new member.

Due to several circumstances, the meeting of the Ad Hoc Cheerleading Committee which had been scheduled for March 27 was postponed. It is still going to be held and President Joe will announce when it will be held so if you are interested in helping explore the possibility of reviving the Cheerleading Competition, in some form but not necessarily the format which we have used in the past, please watch for the announcement of the this meeting and bring your ideas to share with this group.

One of the “quiet” ways in which our Club serves those less fortunate than ourselves is by purchasing eye exams, and new eyeglasses, for needy individuals living within our area. Our work in this field is made known to the members of Board of Directors each month, but if you are not on the Board you don’t know about this valuable service. Therefore, we want to tell you now that in the last three months (Jan. through March) our Club has provided this service to twelve individuals at absolutely no cost to them. We are grateful for the contributions made by Dr. Joseph Rebman in assisting us make this possible by providing his professional service for each person we help. As our motto states … We Serve.

We began this Tournament with 43 participants and have now reduced the field to 21 players. Due to our unusual schedule of events in April we will have no competitions this month but they will resume at our first regular Club meeting in May. Watch the May newsletter to see who is scheduled to compete at each meeting that month. We are on track to have the semi-finals and final contest held at our last meeting of this Lions year, on June 26.

I’m not sure President Joe remembered to announce Presidents Honor Night at our last meeting (that’s an inside joke, folks – if you were at the meeting, you get it) so to help him out we’ll announce it here. This special District event will be held Friday evening, April 20, at Yoder’s Restaurant in New Holland. It is a dinner and program designed to recognize and commend the Club presidents from all the Clubs in District 14-D. Reservations must be in by April 9. If you can attend this function, and help recognize Joe for the great job he has done this year, please contact him for further details.

Saturday, April 21 –District Convention at Cedar Crest Middle School; contact Joe immediately for more information because registrations must be in by April 7; once it is known whoill be attending, car pools will be formed.

Saturday, May 12 – District 14-D Golf Tournament to be held at Fairveiw Golf Course;

this is available to boys or girls, ages 14-16, who may never have had an opportunity to attend a camp;

daily activities are planned, and supervision is provided throughout the week; if you know of a youth

Although it is still several months until we hold our Annual Car Cruise, the committee is looking for ideas, and help. If you can offer either, please contact Steve Roland, Keith Perry or Glen Leib. They will be happy to hear from you now, and as we move closer to the September date of the Cruise, you will see more in this newsletter.

* Show me a man with both feet firmly planted on the ground and I’ll show you a man who can’t

Previous Newsletter

Lions Ledger